Merchandise Planner

Insight Global; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global is seeking a Merchandise Planner to support the Apparel division of a major national retailer. You will partner with buyers, category teams, vendors, and replenishment partners to drive sales, inventory, margin, and assortment strategies across apparel categories.

This role suits someone with a strong background in merchandise planning, buying, or category management who enjoys using data to influence decisions and optimize product performance.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in merchandise planning or category management in a large retail environment.
• Experience collaborating with vendors, buyers, and merchandising teams.
• Background in apparel, fashion, seasonal merchandise, or related consumer retail categories.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel experience.
• Ability to interpret data and provide actionable business recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage financial plans including sales, markdowns, gross margin, inventory turnover, and forecasting.
• Partner with buyers to build category strategies and growth opportunities.
• Create and maintain assortment plans and allocation strategies across store formats.
• Analyze sales trends, inventory performance, and market conditions to drive planning decisions.
• Reforecast in-season performance and recommend actions to improve results.
• Support advertising, merchandising, and product presentation strategies to maximize sales.
• Manage open-to-buy processes and communicate planning updates to stakeholders.
• Analyze seasonal and fashion categories to inform future assortment and planning strategies.
• Work with replenishment and inventory teams to optimize store and warehouse inventory levels.
• Develop markdown forecasts and reporting to support inventory management initiatives.
• Determine planogram minimums using store volume analytics and partner feedback.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Vendor collaboration

Excel

Tools

Excel

Job description

(Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education)

About the Opportunity

Insight Global is seeking a Merchandise Planner to support the Apparel division of one of the nation's largest retail organizations. This individual will partner closely with buyers, category teams, vendors, and replenishment partners to drive sales, inventory, margin, and assortment strategies across apparel categories.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in merchandise planning, buying, assortment planning, or category management who enjoys using data to influence business decisions and optimize product performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage financial plans including sales, markdowns, gross margin, inventory turnover, and forecasting
• Partner closely with buyers to build category strategies and identify growth opportunities
• Create and maintain assortment plans and allocation strategies across multiple store formats
• Analyze sales trends, inventory performance, consumer demand, and market conditions to drive planning decisions
• Reforecast in-season business performance and recommend actions to improve results
• Support advertising, merchandising, and product presentation strategies that maximize sales and turnover
• Manage open-to-buy processes and communicate planning updates to key stakeholders
• Analyze seasonal and fashion categories to inform future assortment and planning strategies
• Work cross-functionally with replenishment and inventory teams to optimize store and warehouse inventory levels
• Develop markdown forecasts and reporting to support inventory management initiatives
• Determine planogram minimums using store volume analytics and partner feedback
• Facilitate planning meetings and communicate process improvements across the planning organization

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in merchandise planning, buying, allocation, or category management within a large retail environment
• Experience collaborating with vendors, buyers, and merchandising teams
• Background supporting apparel, fashion, seasonal merchandise, or similar consumer retail categories
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Microsoft Excel experience
• Ability to interpret data and provide actionable business recommendations
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

• Work with one of the largest and most recognized retail organizations in the United States
• Influence assortment, inventory, and merchandising decisions that impact business performance at scale
• Collaborate with experienced buyers, planners, and merchandising professionals
• Gain exposure to enterprise-level retail planning and inventory strategy

Interested candidates should have a passion for retail planning, strong analytical expertise, and experience driving results within apparel or seasonal merchandise categories.